From tree to lasting memory #1: From tree to lasting memory

How it all starts:Like most woodworkers my projects start with a trip to the lumber yard. Picking out the right boards and loading them up in the truck. Starting a project like this is exhilarating, the thought of cutting into lumber, ripping it down. Hearing the saw sing and smelling the fresh aroma that is only found deep within each board. As I stare at the lumber in my rearview mirror, I am not thinking about all the hard work and pain that will be needed to complete the project all I can see is the beautiful finished project and how people will be in ahw of it. Ok I maybe romanticizing it too much.

About 6 years ago, we cut down a very large red oak tree at my Mom and Dad’s house. My first thought was that will make a lot of fire wood but when I saw that 26” X 25’ log I just could not cut it up into fire wood. I had seen this tree grow for 40 years it would be great to build something out of this tree and keep it around for generations to come. And so started a journey…from tree to lasting memory.

-- Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31

I had cut down dozens of big trees, some big, some curved. I was amazed with the guy with his woodmizer, a very long day, but he cut it all, and I had to stack it. I found the weirder boards are the best. Years ago I had a very old plum tree and sawed this up and made some bark edged furniture. It is like stone, and completely rot resistant on par with mahogany some are outside benches, others bookshelves. I have enough new wood for another decade of projects. And I already have a few more trees closing in the veiw that will need to go in a few years.

Gasperetti makes nice stuff. I am a big fan of how he makes the solid wood backs. I am afraid I use plywood unless I am trying to make reproduction, then I go with poplar roughed out with the jack plane. His prices do remind me of one more reason to make my own furniture. He does have a great portfolio of work and something to aspire to for sure.